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At £475, this sits below your £490 25th percentile and well under the £504 median, so it reads as a strong deal in the current used market rather than just “fair.” It’s not a fire-sale gap, but it is meaningfully under the usual band for this DAC, which makes it attractive if the unit is clean and fully functional.
The D90SE is well-liked for its very low-noise, highly transparent sound, excellent measurement performance, and versatile digital input set, so it’s a sensible buy for someone wanting a neutral, do-it-all DAC. If it comes with the original remote, power supply, and packaging, that adds real value; given the price, I’d prioritize confirming the display, inputs, and all outputs work properly before jumping.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
MQA emerged in December 2014 from the innovative labs of UK-based Meridian Audio, founded by digital audio pioneer Bob Stuart. As a proprietary codec—Master Quality Authenticated—MQA was designed to deliver studio-master sound quality through efficient encoding, folding high-resolution audio up to 192kHz into standard 44.1kHz files while addressing perceived timing inaccuracies in digital playback. Meridian, renowned for its high-res contributions like the MLP format for DVD-Audio, spun off MQA as an independent company, MQA Limited, to champion this streaming-era solution.
Unlike traditional hi-fi hardware makers, MQA focuses exclusively on audio technology licensing rather than physical products like amplifiers, speakers, or turntables. Its core offerings include encoders for labels, decoders integrated into DACs, streamers, and apps, plus extensions like the Arya Bluetooth codec (formerly SCL6/MQAir) for wireless high-res transmission. Bluesound, NAD, and PSB products have prominently featured MQA decoding, embedding the tech into high-performance streaming DACs and amplifiers.
Positioned as a high-end niche player, MQA garnered initial acclaim for promising authenticated artist-intended sound but faced fierce debate over its claims of superior fidelity and lossless efficiency, dividing engineers and reviewers. After administration in April 2025, Lenbrook Industries—owners of NAD, PSB, and Bluesound—acquired its assets, signaling potential revival and renewed integration into premium hi-fi ecosystems for discerning streaming enthusiasts.
See all MQA listings on RADAR.
